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Saturday, September 28, 2013

Students have to begin somewhere :) This vibrant sun is the start of a cute little make up bag.

Registration for this online workshop opens today!

I am thrilled to see the interest in this workshop. I received several emails asking for more information and realized that I had been tardy in a set of FAQ for you.

Q: How do I get into the online workshop?

A: Today, September 27th, registration opens for this class. Email me carli the quilter (at) gmail (dot) com with all your contact information. I'll email you back with a welcoming letter to the workshop with a supply list and my home mailing address in Canada. I'll forward your invitation link to our private classroom when I receive your payment. Send payment via express post if you live outside of British Columbia, Canada.

(I don't have a payment site and I feel at this time, its kind of experimental doing online workshops, so just mailing me a money order is best. If this proves to be successful, I'll arrange online payment at that time.)

The first project instructions will be posted on our private classroom beginning Oct 21. Read on for all the details for this brand new workshop where we'll explore thread painting with your own sewing machine and breaking some rules usually found in the world of quilting.

Q: What does it cost?

A: I have structured this online workshop using the same tools I use when working as an adult instructor, teaching in person. This means you'll get a course outline, supply list, daily feedback to your questions, opportunity to post your progress to the other online classmates and myself, ideas you might want to explore while working through my structured class and access for one year to our private online classroom. $45 per person.

Q: What does this class include?

A: I design 99% of everything I make, so you know its original work. And when I have learned something from a book or a blog, I give you my links of learning. I teach you how to use my unique techniques of painting with threads, using threads that you already have or can purchase at any regular fabric store. I don't use paint, fancy items not commonly found and I am a practical, gentle teacher. I've been there and done it. All of the work on projects is done on a regular sewing machine. I will show you in step by step how to achieve your own self portrait. These techniques are not reserved to just one project. You'll be able to transfer your learning to portraits of your family or pets. I will show you my way of Thread Painting. And best of all, you don't have to go anywhere, spend money on gas or accommodation, just hang out in your sewing room and have fun :)

You'll work on two warm up projects: a make up bag with zipper and a fun little kitchen wall hanging and then onto your self portrait. This portrait doesn't have to be yourself, you could decide to make your pet or another person, its up to you who is the focus of your major project.

Q: What skill level is this class for?

A: This is not for the beginner quilter, but neither is it a class that requires you be a full blown experienced quilter. If you have some experience using a sewing machine and understand the principles of quilting, you'll be fine. Its designed for those with a sense of discovery and willingness to try new things.

Q: Will I be able to keep up with the class considering vacations and events in my life?

A: This is really up to you, its fun to participate with other classmates by making comments and asking questions in a classroom setting, even if its online. I will be posting the steps in advance so you will see in advance what we are working on, so you can decide. I am not going to be upset if I don't see comments from you. Everyone has there own way of learning and some of us just get on with it quietly and others are more chatty, so don't worry, you are in good company. You will have a year to access the workshop in its entirety if your life gets crazy with stuff going on.

So there you have it, I'd love to work with you! Register today by sending me an email at carli the quilter (at ) gmail (dot ) com

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

I began the work of completing "A Dresden Summer." Go to my tutorial on Freestyle Dresden Plate Fan here.here. I played around a bit with the creation of the Chevron braids that originally were to encircle the center portion with the 4 Dresden Plates.

But when it was all said and done.

This left me feeling like a bit overwhelmed with too much colour. I felt the outer border braids took all the love from the Dresden Plates. What do you think?

So I decided to give A Dresden Summer a better presentation. I have so far added another inner border

I chose a deer scene print. I didn't have more of the lemon or the beige check print, so I improvised!Now, I'm setting it on the other side of my room to view while I work on other projects. Tell me, would you continue with the bright outer border of the Chevron Braid?Carli

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Hello everyone, :)

I bet some of you are wrinkling your forehead and wondering what's going on with Carli's blog? Yes, its true, I've been reading, learning, doing an e-course and trying to improve my blog. I know, you've probably noticed that I recently had my own photo on my page. Egads, I must learn how to resize photos. I certainly didn't want "a photo in your face size!!" Sorry :)

I have changed my backgrounds available from blogger several times! I have changed where things are located on my blog and I've written another tutorial and posted that too!

Go to my Pages section and scroll down till you see the Chevron Braid. Its the most recent tutorial and a good one.

You'll also see that I've made up a cute little advertisement for our property that is for sale and we'd like to sell.

But most importantly, I've decided to start offering workshops. Now I looked at the whole matter of doing my workshops online at recognized online sites offering classes. But decided that I preferred to be more inclusive, personal and have a ready and able hands on approach.

Why all these changes?

I've been blogging since 2011 and its just time for a renovation

I'm learning from other blogger's what they are actively doing and want to do something like it

Its important to keep on growing, trying new things out and I really could use your expert help?

Please check out my blog and let me know what another pair of eyes see and tell me what you think, Please?

Now for the Giveaway!

Sir Alfred Smithers in Thread Painting was popular!

I wanted to say a really big thank you to our son Paul, who is so kind and supportive of my work, that he kept on encouraging me and here we are.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

I am gluten free by reasons of acute gastrointestional disturbances that are completely solved by eating only foods in all ways, that are free of wheat and gluten.I am so much better since eliminating the wheat/gluten intake in my meals. I will not bore everyone with the acute symptoms but suffice to say that it was stressful not knowing where a public washroom was, at all times :(Since June 1, 2011, I have not willingly ingested anything wheat or gluten and had some tummy growlies now and then. I cannot say all discomforts were because of eating wheat, but I'm darn suspicious of it though. Ill informed people who have waved it off my inquiries, assuring me it was safe as it was made with a GF mix from the store, they meant well. But for those of us that cannot tolerate wheat/gluten and its an allergic reaction. Its unpleasant and its harming our intestines like lethal knife scraping off the hair of a moose hide. I used to get brain fog all the time, more so as I neared the tipping scales of change for me. Working meant that sometimes, you just couldn't say the very sentence you were thinking, disconnecting your thoughts from your actions was traumatizing for me. One of my GI symptoms.Co-workers and employers just think you are getting old and loosing it!But I know for sure that to keep me healthy as I'm supposed to be, I must keep wheat and gluten out of my diet, period.Now for a little fun, go and try some of these very tasty gluten free recipes at

http://www.instructables.comHeh, if you are gluten free and want to connect with others who are gluten free or you have other food related allergies, please do me a comment. Tally ho!carli

Saturday, September 7, 2013

I really love turning things in quilting on its ass!

Really I do!

This little quilt top in the previous post.

I started pulling some scrappy pieces that kind of go with the plaid fabrics, plus some for of the flowery type fabrics to begin a first border. I was thinking of Home on the Range when I started this and so we'll see where this goes. I rarely use anyone else's patterns. I so prefer the freedom to make my own mistakes or my own design.

In the tutorials I'm doing along with all my UFO's this year, I will try to lend the process I use to create and design my own.

Linking up with

Carrie P at A Passion for Applique

Take care and talk to you soon, hoping your weekend is as gorgeous outside as my world is?

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

I couldn't really wrap anything up until I finished them, so here are the project that I've pulled out of special boxes to begin finishing them and while I'm finishing these lovelies, I'll prepare a bunch of tutorials which I'll link up to from my blog.

First up is the "Summer on the Range" quilt with 4 large 21 petalled Dresden Plate quilt that I started in late 2011 and then began organizing the mega project in early 2012. What was I thinking?

There was absolutely no way I could do a quilt along and sincerely, my readers knew this, right?

Thankfully, my loyal and faithful followers have continued to listen to my ramblings as I took on the Smithers Centennial Quilt. What did you think of that particular quilt, I'd love to hear your thoughts?

Unfortunately, I cannot find this magazine now to comment on the actual designer, but do check into Quilt Mania!

It was a practice on hand applique so I'd be ready for the mega project.

I used vintage fabrics for the petals, my version is called 'Pretty Petals" and I also used vintage fabrics for the background.

Then 2013 is the year to complete this one, its been around now for several years and really deserves the finishing touches to really make this one pop.

This quilt is one of the Round Robin quilts that I participated on during the past ten years of living back in the Bulkley Valley. Its my Mexacali Quilt.

My chicken quilt has also been around for sometime. I used home made templates for the individual chickens and its needing a home outside my special box.

Then this one is my Modern Orange quilt. Simply as that, its got no name and is still in the process.

And then there is this one that is kind of wonky in my opinion. I'm not sure that I'll leave the hexy flowers in place, we'll see as this progresses.

These are the unfinished or UFO's that will get done first this fall. I'm preparing tutorials on hand applique, modern settings, free motion quilting and freelancing your stash.

Ok, so that is what I'm working on and you know new stuff will pop in as my other projects on thread painting proceed. Let me know if you are interested in my upcoming Thread Painting Fun workshop online?